As of 31 December 1999, employers involved in the transport
of dangerous
goods will be required to appoint vocationally qualified Dangerous
Goods Safety Advisers (DGSA). Employers who will be effected are those who
consign dangerous goods for transport and load the goods themselves or
are operators of vehicles carrying dangerous goods or those who load or
unload dangerous goods while they are in transit to their final
destination. Employers can be exempted from the requirement if the
transport of dangerous goods is not their main or secondary activity and
are only occasionally involved in the transport of dangerous goods and
the transport of dangerous goods does not create a significant risk to the
health and safety of persons and the environment. If dangerous goods are
being moved below the load thresholds laid down in the CDGRoad Regulations, then
employers also need not appoint a DGSA.
Once appointed, a DGSA’s responsibilities will be to
provide the employer with advice on all areas of the transport of dangerous
goods and to monitor compliance with the relevant legislation and related health
and safety practices. The DGSA will also need to produce an annual report to the
employer on their activities concerning the transport of dangerous goods, as
well as producing reports on any accidents which occur and involve the transport
of dangerous goods.
